After a debate about whether it’s promoting religion, the state House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to require North Carolina’s public schools to display in a prominent place the words “In God We Trust.”

Supporters of House Bill 965, which passed 94-15, said that the legislation would promote the nation’s history and identity because “In God We Trust” is the national motto. They denied that the bill was an attempt to promote religion in general or Christianity in particular.

“I understand that any time the name of God is mentioned it’s going to be divisive,” said Rep. Bert Jones, a Republican from Rockingham County and one of the bill’s primary sponsors. “But I would just remind us that this is the national motto of the United States.” But critics said the bill sends the message that the state is backing one religion over another because most people will assume it’s referring to Christianity.

North Carolina is considering the legislation at a time when several other states have recently passed bills requiring “In God We Trust” signs to be placed in schools.

The Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, which works with a group of members of Congress on faith issues, has launched “Project Blitz,” an effort to flood state legislatures with bills such as “In God We Trust” legislation. The group says it’s trying “to protect the free exercise of traditional Judeo-Christian religious values and beliefs in the public square, and to reclaim and properly define the narrative which supports such beliefs.” “In God We Trust” was adopted as the national motto by Congress in 1956.

Source: The News & Observer